Spanish Conversation · Level 56
72 words
Spanish word
salpicar
Pronunciation
IPA/salpiˈkaɾ/
Meaning
- verbsprinkle
Example
Voy a salpicar la ensalada con aceite.
I'm going to sprinkle the salad with oil.
More examples
No quiero que el coche me salpique barro.
I don't want the car to splash mud on me.
Core concept
Small droplets striking and staining a surface.
Common phrases
salpicar a alguien
splash someone
salpicar de barro
splash with mud
salpicar con limón
sprinkle with lemon
Similar words
rociar: Send liquid in a fine, even mist so droplets coat surfaces uniformly.
mojar: Make a surface wet by applying water or another liquid to it.
derramar: Pour liquid from a container accidentally or carelessly, creating a spill.
manchar: Leave a visible stain or mark on a surface from dirt or liquid.
Definition in Spanish
Verter o lanzar pequeñas gotas o partículas sobre algo para mojarlo o mancharlo; en sentido figurado, decir que un hecho alcanza o implica a alguien.
Word origin
Derived from Latin salpicare 'to splash', the verb denotes throwing or scattering small drops that wet or stain and also acquires a figurative sense for something that touches a person.
Usage tips
- Spanish uses salpicar for scattered drops or spatter, while rociar or pulverizar describe an even spray, and salpicar often takes a person with the preposition 'a' when it affects someone.
Other meanings
- splashverb
- spatterverb
- scatterverb
Related words
- salpicadurasplashnoun
- salpicadosplatteredadjective